AnAge entry for Odobenus rosmarus

Classification (HAGRID: 02658)

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity

Not yet established

Observations

In the wild, walrus have been estimated to live over 40 years [0542]. Their longevity in captivity has not been studied in detail and hence information on ageing is limited. One wild born specimen was about 30.6 years old when it died in captivity [0671]. Atherosclerosis was described in a 25 year-old captive animal [0555].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity

1,745 days

Male sexual maturity

2,635 days

Gestation

331 days

Weaning

730 days

Litter size

1 (viviparous)

Litters per year

0.5

Inter-litter interval

834 days

Weight at birth

60,000 g

Weight at weaning

200,000 g

Adult weight

1,012,500 g

Postnatal growth rate

0.0009 days-1 (from Gompertz function)

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World